After simply two seasons in Atlanta, Desmond Ridder’s time with the Falcons has come to an finish.
CBS Sports activities lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones has reported that the Falcons are finalizing a deal that can ship Ridder to Arizona. To make the commerce occur, the Cardinals are sending Rondale Moore to Atlanta.
For the Falcons, Ridder grew to become expendable this week after they signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in free company.
After the Cousins signing, Ridder most likely figured he wasn’t going to be sticking round in Atlanta for much longer. The previous third-round decide had a tough 2023 season and by the point the yr ended, Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean did not sound happy about the quarterback situation. Again in January, Clean made it clear that he was annoyed with the group’s quarterback play in 2023. He additionally stated that he would let the brand new teaching employees decide their very own beginning quarterback, which was the primary signal that Ridder was doubtless performed with the Falcons.
It was a tumultuous yr for Ridder, who bought benched twice throughout the 2023 season. The primary benching got here in November, however that solely lasted two weeks and he was given his job again earlier than the month was over. Ridder then ended up making 4 extra begins after that earlier than being benched once more. General, Ridder began a complete of 13 video games final season and the Falcons went 6-7 with him underneath heart.
The previous third-round decide by no means actually meshed with coach Arthur Smith and he wasn’t capable of reap the benefits of the offensive weapons that the Falcons put round him. Throughout his two seasons with the Falcons, Ridder threw 14 landing passes, however he additionally turned the ball over 21 occasions (12 interceptions, 9 misplaced fumbles).
And now, let’s get to the half the place we grade the commerce for each groups.
Falcons obtain:
That is an absolute steal of a deal for Atlanta. With Ridder on his approach out, the Falcons have been ready the place they’d have doubtless taken something they may get in a possible commerce. Normally, that finally ends up being a Day 3 decide within the NFL Draft, however on this case, the Falcons truly hit a house run.
Not solely did they commerce away a participant who doubtless would not have performed a single down for them in 2024, however they bought again an enormous weapon in return. Moore will now be becoming a member of a loaded Falcons offense that already consists of Drake London and Darnell Mooney at receiver.
Moore, who was chosen within the second spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft, has completed with at the least 40 receptions in every of his three NFL seasons. In 2023, he completed fourth on the group in receiving yards with 40 catches for 352 yards. Opposing defenses shall be worrying about London and Mooney in 2024, which may open the door for Moore to have an enormous yr.
Atlanta commerce grade: A
Cardinals obtain:
This is not a horrible commerce for the Cardinals. That they had a necessity at backup quarterback, and so they crammed that want by including Ridder. Giving up Moore is considerably of a shock, particularly since Arizona will doubtless be shedding Marquise Brown in free company. With each guys out, which means Arizona shall be going into 2024 with out two of their top-four receivers from final season.
Earlier than this commerce, the Cardinals had Clayton Tune behind Kyler Murray on the depth chart, however now, that job will go to Ridder.
Arizona commerce grade: C+
